The IPM CRSP
develops and implements approaches to integrated pest
management that help raise the standard of living and
improve the environment in countries around the world. From
the Director
Gandhi
Karthikeyan, associate professor, Department of
Plant Pathology, Centre for Plant Protection
Studies, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India,
has completed one year of advanced training in plant
virology under the direction of
Naidu Rayapati, assistant professor in the
Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State
University. Part of Karthikeyan's training was
funded by USAID through IPM CRSP project awarded to
Rayapati on "Thrips-borne tospoviruses in vegetable
cropping systems in Asian countries.
Integrated Pest Management is needed in all
areas of the developing world. Pests—insects,
weeds, vertebrates, diseases—respect no borders and spread through plant and animal migration, wind, water,
and by human activity, including trade in plant
and animal products.
Concerns over bio-security and
invasive species are global issues that require IPM
attention in both developed and developing countries.
Through IPM, crop losses
and pesticide use are reduced, farmer income increased,
and education capabilities improved.
One reason IPM CRSP work is so effective is that all
development work under this program integrates
gender as
a critical component.
IPM projects are divided into two broad categories:
regional programs and global theme programs.
Regional
programs address problems of a specific area while
global theme programs deal with universal issues.
